Snow disposal apparatus



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Primary Examiner- Daniel Blum Attorney-Wallensteim Spangenberg, Hattis and Strampel ABSTRACT: Snow disposal apparatus is provided which preferably comprises a container for receiving snow to be 80 6 ww 4. M 85 JMMH 7 5 17 4 m3, 3 "5 l "3 ."4 3 H/ H6 0 l mh "c r 8 "e "S i m d Ld .1 MP 1.1. 0 55 .ll.

melted, water spray means in the upper portion of the con- [56] UNITE S ;:;S ;:?rENTS tainer for spraying hot water upon the top of a load of snow delivered to the container, and vertical partition-forming walls in the container for providing downwardly moving stre water to aid in the collapsing and melting ofthe snow.

ams of 7/1944 Schulz.................

Patented Nov. 17, 1970 3,540,430

Sheet 1 of 2 Patented Nov. 17, 1970 3,540,430

Sheet 2 0m I /\7I8 v 4 I8 7 L )L M ads, oamufi RUDNIK *2: M

SNOW DISPOSAL APPARATUS SUMMARY OF INVENTION This invention relates to snow disposal apparatus, and, in particular, to apparatus in which relatively large quantities of snow can be dumped and melted within a relatively short time and the melted snow discharged to a sewer or the like. The invention has particular utility, for example, in disposing of snow in parking lots, driveways and the like.

In many of the snow melting systems heretofore proposed, snow is dumped into a body of high temperature water which melts the snow as it becomes immersed therein. Since the melted snow lowers the temperature of the heated water, it is apparent that theamount of heat which must be transmitted to the body ofwater to keep it at a high temperature when mixed with the melting snow becomes substantial.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved snow melting apparatus which can be made at a substantially lower cost than snow melting apparatus heretofore proposed.

Another object of the invention is to provide snow melting apparatus of the type described wherc'water is heated and used in a manner which minimizes the amount of water used and/or the heat required to melt a given quantity ofsnow.

A further-object of the invention is to provide snow melting and disposal apparatus as described which can be easily and readily inexpensively installed by connection to existing water pipes, sewer lines and electrical power lines, the electrical power supplying all of the energy for operating any pumps or heating units used in the apparatus.

In accordance with one of the features of the invention, instead of fully immersing the load of snow delivered to the snow melting apparatus in a body of hot water, hot or warm water is sprayed under pressure upon an exposed body of snow, so both the heat, weight and pressure of the water being sprayed onto the snow aids in the melting of the snow.

In the most preferred form of the invention, the collapsing and melting of the load of snow is enhanced by providing a snow-receiving chamber which is broken up into relatively small compartments by vertically extending partition-forming walls. The water is sprayed into the upper portion of each of these compartments onto the snow and against the partitionforming walls, the resulting downwardly moving streams of water on the walls aiding in the collapsing and melting of the snow.

In one form of the invention, water is delivered to the spray nozzles from an inlet conduit through a control valve. This control valve may be permanently closed when the equipment is not in use, or may under automatic control where water is fed therethrough only when the level of the water in the apparatus drops below a given level. Normally, the water to be sprayed is obtained from the melted snow which water is recirculated by a water recirculating pump and fed through a heater on its way to the water spray nozzles. The balance of the melted snow is discharged from the apparatus by a discharge pump.

In the most preferred form of the invention, the snow melting apparatus has, in addition to a relatively large snow chamber, a relatively small water chamber positioned immediately below the snow chamber and separated therefrom by an apertured wall. The water from the melting snow drains into the water chamber which contains float controlled water level sensing means for controlling the operation of the water recirculating pump, the water discharge pump and the control valve associated with the inlet conduit. The discharge pump is preferably contained within a water collection chamber positioned at a lower elevation than the water chamber and into which water drains relatively slowly from the bottom of the water chamber and from a water overflow opening in the lower portion of the snow chamber which opening determines the level of the water in the snow chamber.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon making reference to the specification to follow, the claims and the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a snow disposal unit constituting the most preferred form of the invention, which unit is designed to be mounted in the ground within or at the perimeter ofa parking lot, driveway or the like;

FIG. 2 is a reduced plan view of the snow dispensing apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional. view through the snow dispensing unit of FIGS. 12 when mounted in the center of a driveway, parking lot or the like; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 in FIG. 3.

Referring now to the drawings, the snow disposal unit there shown and generally indicated by reference numeral I is designed to be mounted in the ground within a parking lot or driveway or at the perimeter thereof. A similar unit could be mounted on a truck or trailer. The snow disposal unit 1 com prises an integral housing 3 whose outer walls may be formed of concrete, if desired, or, as illustrated, by metal walls to be described. The size of the housing 3 will vary, depending upon the quantity of snow to be accommodated therein. The number ofsnow disposal units 1 may be spaced at different locations within a very large parking lot area to minimize the distance the snow must be plowed or carried thereto.

The housing 3 has a main body portion 3a comprising a bot tom horizontal wall 5, spaced parallel vertical side walls 6 and 7 and an outer vertical end wall 8 and an inner vertical end wall 9 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). The main body portion 3a of the housing 3 formed by the aforementioned walls 5-9 is divided into two main chambers 12 and 14 by a perforated wall or grating 16 welded or otherwise suitably connected to the vertical side walls 6-9. The upper chamber 12, to be referred to as a snow chamber, occupies the major portion of the space within the main body portion of the housingv The chamber 14 will be referred to as a water chamber.

In the most preferred form in the invention, the 'snow chamber 12 is divided into a number of relatively narrow, vertically extending compartments 12a, 12b, I20 etc. by vertical partition-forming walls 17 which extend from the grating 16 to an elevation approximately coextensive with the top of the vertical walls 6-9. Supported directly over the upper portion of the partition-forming walls 17 are one or more cover plates 18 which normally cover an opening into the compartments 12a, 12b, 126 etc. The cover plates 18 illustrated in the drawings may be pivoted back so they rest on the ground where snow can be readily plowed or dropped into the compartments 12a, 12b, 120 etc. where the snow is melted in a manner to be described.

The housing 3 also has at one end of the main body portion thereofan end portion 3b formed by an outer vertical end wall 22 which extends between the outer vertical side walls 6 and 7. The end wall 22 in the most preferred form of the invention extends down to a point lower than the bottom wall 5 of the main body portion of the housing 3. The end portion 3b of the housing further includes a bottom wall 24 which extends between the bottom ofthe vertical outer end wall 22 and vertical wall portions 6'-7' which may be extensions of the vertical outer side walls 6-7 and a wall portion 9' which may be an extension of the inner vertical end wall 9 forming part of the main body portion 2a ofthe housing 3. The end portion 3b 7 of the housing 3 has a horizontal wall 27 spaced a relatively small distance from the bottom wall 24 to form a water collection chamber 29. A self-priming water discharge pump 30 and a water recirculating pump 32 are most advantageously mounted within the water collection chamber 29. The water collection chamber 29, as indicated, is at an elevation below the water chamber 14 for reasons to be explained.

A control unit 33 is mounted in the upper section ofa compartment 35 positioned above the wall 27 in the end portion 3b of the housing 3. The control unit 33 is accessible by opening a pivoted cover 37 mounted on the top of the end portion 3b of the housing 3. The control unit 33 has one or more switch control knobs 26 for turning the snow disposal unit I on and off.

In accordance with the invention, water spray nozzles 40 connected to a water supply pipe 42 are positioned along the inner walls at the upper ends of the compartments 12a, 12b, 120 etc. of the snow chamber 12. The nozzles provide fanshaped streams of water directed to all portions of the upper portions of the compartments 12a, 12b, 12c etc. Thus, water is directed both into the center portions of the compartments and also along the partition-forming walls 17, so that streams of water run downwardly along the walls 17 and water under pressure impinge upon the exposed portions of the snow delivered to the compartments 12a, 12b, 12c etc. The water delivered to the nozzles 40 is preferably hot water so both the temperature, the pressure and weight of the water, and the streams of water moving along the partition-forming walls 17, all contribute to collapse and melt the snow.

The source of water for melting the snow may be hot water delivered to the snow disposal unit 1 directly from the hot water supply of a building associated with the parking lot, driveway, etc. To this end, a hot water inlet conduit 41 extends to an inlet solenoid operated control valve 45. The control valve 45, which is normally closed, may be opened by operating'one of the switch control knobs 36 in the control unit 33. If the water in the inlet conduit 41 is at a much higher temperature than is needed for the snow melting operation, and it is desired to minimize the use of the amount of hot water in such case, the hot water flowing through the inlet conduit 41 may be mixed with cold water flowing into a mixing unit 43 through a cold water inlet conduit 41. A solenoid operated control valve 45 is connected to the cold water inlet conduit 41' and is operated with the solenoid operated valve 45. As is well known in the art, mixing unit 43 may be pro vided with suitable control equipment for controlling the ratio ofthe mixture of the hot and cold water flowing from the conduits 41 and 41'. The control equipment in the mixing unit 43 will automatically control the proportion of the hot and cold water fed to a common feed line 50 connected to the water supply pipe 42 extending to the various water spray nozzles Melted snow or other water delivered to the bottom of the various compartments of the snow chamber 12 drain through the grating 16 into the water chamber 14. The bottom wall of the water chamber 14 may be provided with a relatively small, screen covered drain 52 connected to a discharge pipe 54 leading to the upper portion ofthe collection chamber 29. The discharge pump 30 in the collection chamber 29 is a self-priming pump which will automatically become operative when the water in the collection chamber rises to a given level. Normally, the pump 30 will discharge water through an outlet pipe 55 leading to a sewer or the like.

Where water is very expensive, it is desirable to minimize the amount of water used in the snow disposal unit 1. In such case, provision'is made for recirculating water in the snow or water chamber by means of the water recirculating pump 32 mounted within the water collection chamber 29. Also, in such case, when there is no snow being melted in the snow dispensing unit 1 and the unit 1 is prepared for operation, means are provided for directing water from the outlet of the water discharge pump 30 back into the snow chamber or water chamber.

To this end, in the most preferred form ofthe invention, the water chamber 14 is provided with a pair of float operated switch units 57 and 58. Floats 60 and 62 are attached to pivoted arms 60' and 61 and control the switch units 57 and 58. When the float 60 is in a position near the bottom of the water chamber 14, a set of contacts within the switch unit 57 close or open, depending upon whether or not normally open or closed contacts are used, to operate a solenoid controlling a valve 65 connected to the outlet discharge pump 30 to divert the water at the pump outlet into a recirculating conduit 67 (FIG. 1) opening onto the upper portion ofthe water chamber 14.

When the float 62 associated with the switch unit 58 is in a given upper position indicating that the water level is in the upper portion of the water chamber 14, the switch unit 58 will open or close a set of contacts to effect operation ofa solenoid which overrides the effect of control knob 36 which opened the valves 45 and 45' to close the valves so as to shut off the flow of any hot or cold water in the hot and cold water inlet conduits 41 and 41 Another set of contacts ofthe switch unit 58 will then be operated to energize the water recirculating pump 32. A water inlet conduit 68 extends from the water chamber 14 to the inlet of pump 32 so that water will be pumped through a conduit 70 to a heating unit 72 which heats the water to a desired temperature. The heating unit 72 will then deliver heated water to the water supply pipe 42 feeding the various water spray nozzles 40. The water heating unit 72 may be any one of a number of well known heating units which automatically heats water delivered thereto to a selected temperature. The heating unit 72 may be automatically rendered operative in any suitable way, as, for example, by a pressure responsive switch in the conduit 70 which will energize the heating unit 72 when there is a given water pressure in the conduit 70.

To enable the water disposal unit 1 to be readily mounted within the ground, a peripheral flange 73 is provided around the perimeter of the upper portion of the housing 3. The flange rests on the top of the ground, the driveway or the like. Also, to contain heat within the housing, the latter is preferably provided with a covering 75 of a suitable solid insulating material, such as Styrofoam. If desired, the snow disposal unit 1, with or without the insulation therearound, may be embedded in a concrete well (not shown).

To prevent water from building up to undesired levels within the snow chamber 12, an overflow opening may be provided within the lower portion of the vertical wall 9 and the suitable level thereof, the opening 80 being connected by conduit 82 to the water collection chamber 29. Also, in the most preferred form of the invention, it is desirable that there be a certain amount of water within the bottom portion ofthe snow chamber 12 to aid in the melting of the snow in the bottom portion thereof. To this end, the drain 52 in the water chamber 14 is such a small opening that the rate at which the water will drain therethrough is less than the rate at which the snow is melted within the snow chamber 12. The desired level of water in the snow chamber, will, of course, be determined by the level ofthe water overflow opening 80.

It should be understood that numerous modifications may be made in the most preferred form of the invention described above without deviating from the broader aspects thereof. For example, where hot water is cheap and readily available, the heating unit 72 and recirculating pump 32 can be eliminated. Alternatively, the hot water inlet conduit 41 and mixing unit 43 can be eliminated and the heating unit 72 used to supply all of the hot water used in the snow disposal unit of the inventron.

I claim:

1. Snow disposal apparatus comprising a container divided into a snow chamber into the upper portion of which snow to be melted is fed to the chamber, a water chamber immediately below the snow chamber and separated therefrom by a perforated wall which enables water resulting from the melting of the snow in the chamber to drain into the water chamber, and a collection chamber the lower portion ofwhich is at an elevation below the bottom of said water chamber and positioned laterally to one side thereof water spraying means in the upper portion of said snow chamber for spraying water upon the top ofa load of snow delivered to said snow chamber wherein the weight and pressure of the water on the snow aids in melting the same, means for supplying water to said spraying means at a temperature substantially above the melting temperature of the snow wherein the heat from the water in addition to the weight and pressure thereof speeds the melting thereof, means for draining water from the bottom of said water chamber at such a slow rate that water builds up in said snow chamber to a desired level where the water therein covers only the lower portion of the snow delivered to the snow chamber, means for discharging excess water from said snow chamber into said collection chamber. and a pump in said collection chamber for discharging the water from said collection chamber.

2. Snow disposal apparatus comprising a container divided into a snow chamber into the upper portion of which snow to be melted is fed to the chamber, a water chamber immediately below the snow chamber and separated therefrom by a perforated wall which enables water resulting from the melting of the snow in the snow chamber to drain into the water chamber, and a collection chamber the lower portion of which is at an elevation below the bottom of said water chamber and positioned laterally to one side thereof said snow chamber portion of said snow chamber for spraying water upon the top of a load of snow delivered to said snow chamber wherein the weight and pressure of the water on the snow aids in melting the same, each of said compartments having a portion of said water spraying means therein which spray water down upon the snow in the compartment involved and against the partition-forming walls, causing a downwardly moving stream of water along each wall which aids in collapsing the snow in the compartment involved, means for supplying water to said spraying means at a temperature substantially above the melting temperature of the snow wherein the heat from the water in addition to the weight and pressure thercofspeeds the melting thereof, means for discharging excess water from said snow chamber into said collection chamber, and a pump in said collection chamber for discharging the water from said collection chamber.

3. Snow disposal apparatus comprising: means forming a relatively large snow receiving and melting and water collection space into the upper portion of which snow to be melted is fed. means forming a separate water collection chamber at an elevation below the bottom of said space, a drain at the bottom of said space for draining water at a slow rate to said collection chamber so water will accumulate above the drain to a level which covers the lower portion of the snow delivered to the space, so that the melting of the snow is further enhanced by the presence ofa body of water in which the snow delivered to the container is partially immersed, a discharge pump in said collection chamber for discharging the water therein to an external disposal location, overflow opening means in said space for draining excess water from said snow chamber to said collection chamber, and means for supplying warm water to said space to aid in melting the snow therein.

4. The'snow disposal apparatus of claim 3 wherein there is provided water recirculating means for recirculating water from the bottom portion to the upper portion of said space. and water heating means for heating the water being recirculated to a-temperature well in excess of the melting temperature ofthe snow.

5. The snow disposal apparatus of claim 4 wherein the means for recirculating water includes water level sensing means in said space which permits recirculation of water only when the water therein reaches a given level above the bottom thereof.

6. The snow disposal apparatus of claim 3 wherein there is provided a water level sensing means responsive to the dropping ofthe level of water in said space below a given level for diverting the water discharged by said pump to an elevated portion of said space. 

